Reeling mechanism for power conductors



y 9, 1953 c. F. BALL 2,639,102

REELING MECHANISM FOR POWER CONDUCTORS Filed Feb. 26, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet l 5222622202: f [7207/65 FBQZ I M I, We

y 19, 3 c. F. BALL 2,639,102

REELING MECHANISM FOR POWER CONDUCTORS Filed Feb. 26, 194'? 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lll ll llk'yfi 553 f4 55 58 i i /2 [ZmriesFBaZZ Patented May 19, 1953 UNITE o STATES PAT or Files.

REELING IWECHANISM' FORTOWER CONDUCTORJS .Ghamles n, Bur, Franklin, m y .assigm cm Manufiactummg- Companm, a corromflon .of.

Bennsylvainia Applicafion' February 26, 1947", 'Ser'ilal N0n73L123 25 Glaims; (01242w-9),

invention.- relaitesto reeling apparatus; for:

and at another moment he paryed' oui as: the vehicle movesaWayfr-om the point; wherebhecable is atfiachedio a; source current;

Inthe operation of 'mine' locomotives and shuttle cers;' it is common to supply power to the propulsion motons-by means of acable wound onw reelmountecl on- We vehicle; but having" a; firee epd edupted to be connected f0 the-track and? trolley line or to; w game end box; or" to some other point are which current available: the vehicle moves awaymectil'ineasrly from. the point? of attachment, the cahle' musti be" payed out, and as itmoves back towards the point-off connection: the cable mus ibe w'ound up 'to prevent its being run over: Moreover, when the vehicle, is: moving back; and forth in. opposite". directions past the mouthof; a: pesa'geway downv which: the cableextendsto a pointf-of connection, the! cable must :be payed euo': as the. vehicle moves; one direction away from: the mouth: of. thei passage way, rewouncl a's filievehicle-retumsito the-mouthof the passageway; age-"inn payedi outwwheni the vet-- lricle moves in the opposite direction away: from. the mouth of the passageway; and: again wound: in: on itsretunna A similar: situation wouldt exisfi when; the connection to th'euscurce of primer is closely" adjacent, to-but' betweenvthe' ends of the wonk-rpafchicf the vehicle; Electrically: divivemreels have: been employed: for: she: purposeof control- 2 line: the: winding in: and; the. payingv out of: the cable, and resistance: has been introduceclxinto: the: reeli driving moron circuit. when the. calfile is teebeapayediout, in QXJZIEIYthalJ th'eitorqneirmay'be' decreased: With such amangemmt'sy however; herring to have: current; continuously on: tihewmcl driving: mpirar has been unrlesi-rauble;x and 1:. have provided, in my present: inventiom, amour-angememin which. an hydraulic; drive of? aa reelzmay hmefieniierlibyamofc'on-pumprdevice; ancr imorden to sexncpower; and to prevent theheabing of; the: oil; emil protectr the: cable against. excessive weer; If have: made: provision to reduce; the-baclc pressure; anainst: which: the motion-pump: device whiph drili .S-i1liil75 csaipa-city' asaamotor, the reel; rinringe winding; i-na has; to! discharge; when sewme: as pumpn chair/en. by the? real; as thes cable millecli oifl air the letter;

Inxe pzzeiemzed apparatus" in whichvthe-reel is: lmdzisulieellydriven; a: mcbor-pump-= device-r con- 2; I necked: to vaweel. licorice the. latter in ai winding inrdinectiom andrtorbednivcn by the letter when cableis being unwound= from-the; reel, a-pumpj'on supplying cperaitingfimd: to the meterv-pumpsdesvice, and: a. plurality ofldiffienently set relief-valves,

are pmvided, with arrangements so that. whenthe motor-pump device is beingoperated as.' a; motor, fiuidrpressun'c may be mturneditol-theitank only aften opening; a pressure reliefi valve having relatively setting. while, when the motorpump dev-ice isbeing; driven as a pump by the mel e; pressure-relief valveihavingrai considerably lower settingris operative, to permit the. fluid pumpe d1 vloy ohe main,puriap amslkalso that pumped; by the: motor-pump.- devicevto be returned to ,a, According mhafipmferned arrangement a passage vbetween. the secmuifl mentioned) reliet valve and a return-s line. to the tank may bepro.- vided withicontrclling means for opening or shutting om the same, and a deviceadapted to: be opcreated when the reel isturni-ng is arranged. to: move saidvcontmlling, means to efiech opening of said. passage. when. the reeL is. turning; one direction; .and this -:device,, when the, reel is turningw in the opposite. dinection', is adapted to, effect; shutting. ofii of, said passage, and such,- device is so constructed& andiarrangedithat. it. requires. the exertion-of relatively,lows fences. In the preferred enfloodiment mentioned, such a". devicemay. in elude? a, friction; clutclm driven actuating. means for said passageopening, andshutfiing. 0111 con.-

trollingrmeansyamb-desimbly, such frictionclutlch.

device.-ma-y be .actuated, from the operating sha flti oi the motor-pump device; although it may be. operated by any element which is in motion whenever the. reel. isturning With such an ar nangement motiomofl the reel. will insure the proper functioning of thesystem.willbringebout such proper functioning immediately upon the initiation: of reeLv movement, will involvev aimi'n'imum cable wean andi been. loss ct power, and creation of. heat; and! will-provide. completesafety; against the danger 011 failing tocommence; towind in thevcaible, quickly enough-.When the vehicle commences to move toward the pain-twice ble: attachment;

In the: accompanying; drawings inf which; one embodiment which my, invention may, assume in: practice is-shownx fun purposes of villusiimtion 1 1. is so diagrammatic View of a system of the? character described;

Fig. 2ais a. section-.thnough. a i high pressure re.- lief velveeformingiaparh of sai'disystemgr Fig: 3 .is 'a sectionxthrough a low ,pressurerrelief. valve fenmmgra pant of the system;

Fig. 4 is a section through a valve shiftable to bring the low pressure relief valve into operative relation to the system; and

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the plane of the line 55 of Fig. 1, showing a controlling device for the valve of Fig. 4. Fig. 5 is shown enlarged.

Referring to the drawings, it will be observed that a tank I constitutes a reservoir for a hydraulic fluid. A pump 2, herein shown diagrammatically as a gear pump, is connected by a suction line 3 to the tank I. The discharge line 4 of the pump 2 is connected to a high pressure relief valve 5 through the internal chamber 6 of which it may pass freely to a conduit I which leads to a low pressure relief valve 8, through the interior chamber 9 of which the fluid may pass freely to another conduit H), which leads to the rotor chamber H of a motor-pump device l2. This motor-pump device is also shown as of the intermeshing gear type, and has at the opposite sides of the mesh line of the gears, a connection |3 to which the conduit It! leads and a. connection H! which is connected by a line l5 back to the tank I. It will be observed that, depending upon the direction of rotation of the gears of the motor-pump device I2, fluid will either be transmitted from the conduit ID to the line I5 or vice versa. The motor-pump device I2 has its intermeshing gears respectively designated l6 and I1, and these may be journaled in any suitable manner, as the structure of this motor-pump device is quite conventional. Herein it will be noted that the rotor I6 is mounted on a shaft |8 to which there is keyed. as at I9, and held, as at 20, by a set screw, a sprocket 2| connected by a suitable chain 22 to a larger sprocket 23 on a reel 24, with which there is associated the conductor or cable 25 for supplying power to the vehicle which supports the apparatus so far described. The free end of the cable is adapted to be connected, by means not shown, to suitable trolley wires, to a track and a trolley wire, or to some other source of electrical energy; and well known means is provided for delivering power supplied to the conductor or cable 25 to a driving motor or to driving motors (not shown) for the vehicle. It will be understood that with the cable 25 wound on the reel 24 in the direction shown, the reel will be driven in a winding-in direction (clockwise in Fig. 1) when fluid from the pump 2 is supplied under adequate pressure to the motor-pump device l2 and winding in is possible, and that the motor-pump device |2 will be driven, in a direction to pump fluid supplied to it through the conduit I5, into the conduit II], when the cable 25 causes the reel 24 to rotate in a counter-clockwise direction as the vehicle moves away from the point of connection of the cable 25.

Obviously the pump 2 and the motor-pump device |2 need not be of the intermeshing gear type but may be of any suitable type or types. The pump 2 may be driven in any suitablemanner continuously while reel operation or control are desired.

The valve mechanisms 5 and 8 are of similar construction, and each is shown as of a well known commercial construction; and they may differ from each other primarily in that the valve mechanism 5 is adapted to relieve pressure therefrom at a relatively high pressure, say, on the order of 300 to 400 pounds :per square inch, while the valve mechanism 8 is adapted to relieve pressure therefrom at a pressure of the fluid in its chamber 9 of 100 to 150 p. s. 1. Referring first momentarily to the device 5, it will be observed that a passage 21 is adapted, on movement of a valve 28 to open position (to the right in Fig. 2) to connect the chamber 6 with a chamber 29, which a conduit 30 connects to the line l5. In the case of the low pressure relief valve 8, a passage 21 is adapted to connect a chamber 29 with a conduit 3| leading to a valve mechanism 32, shortly to be described, and another conduit 33 connects the valve mechanism 32 to the line l5. When the valve 28' of the valve mechanism 8 moves to open position fluid may pass from the chamber 9 through the opening 21', the chamber 29', to the conduit 3|, and may have access to the conduit 33 or not, depending upon the control exerted by the mechanism 32. The mechanism 32 is shown in section in Fig. 4, and will be observed to comprise a casing 35 having a bore 36 in which a piston valve 31 is reciprocable. The piston valve 31 has a eripheral groove 38 which, in the position of the piston valve 31 shown in Fig. 4 (the upper position of said valve), operates to connect a lower annular groove 40 with an upper annular groove 39. The groove 39 is connected with the conduit 3| the groove 40 with the conduit 33.

Means is provided for controlling the position of the piston valve 31 so that said valve will be in the raised position shown in Fig. 4 and establish communication between the conduits 3| and 33 when the reel 24 is turning counterclockwise in Fig. 1, that is to say, is being caused to turn by the tension which the cable exerts upon it in an unwinding direction as the vehicle moves in such a direction as to require lengthening of the cable between the point of connection of its end and the reel. Conversely, when the reel 24 is being driven by the motor-pump device l2 and is winding in cable, the piston valve 31 will be moved downwardly from the position shown in Fig. 4 and interrupt communication between the grooves 39 and 40 and correspondingly between the conduits 3| and 33. When the piston valve is in its raised position of Fig. 4, it will be possible for fluid pumped to be vented-to the return line I5 when the pressure in the conduit l0 exceeds the setting of the low pressure relief valve device 8, and when the piston valve 31 is in its lowered position, relief of pressure from the conduit ID to the return conduit l5 by opening of the low pressure relief valve 8 will be an impossibility because the conduit 3| will be closed.

It will be noted that the piston valve 31 will be stopped in its upward movement by the engagement of its upper end with a cover 4| of the casing 35, and downward movement of the piston valve 31 will be interrupted when the piston valve is in its position cutting off communication between the chambers 39 and 48, as by a split ring 42'received in a groove 43 in the upper end of the upper spool of the piston valve, which ring is engageable with a surface 44 extending transversely of the casing 35.

The position of the piston valve 31 is controlled by a frictional control arm mechanism, shown most clearly in Fig. 5. In this figure, it will be observed that the sprocket 2| has extending from it a boss 46 on which there is mounted a collar or sleeve member 41 which is held by a pin and hole connection 48 against rotation relative to the sprocket, but which is permitted by this form of connection some axial movement with respect to the sprocket and which is thrust outwardly relative to the boss 46 by springs 48 shown as arranged in recesses 50, 5|

enemies formed in the sleeve spreehet' memb'em re speetivei The toss it has" areeuce'd outer end -52, and an anti-friction hearing 53 "retatabiy seepe'rt's a'sueeert'rmg 5'4 of a ieverarm ts on this 'reeueed enter errata. Iiie'ieve'r' arm 85 cermeeted by a links? "Withthe valve -37. A siaht rifle ancigroove arrangement BSholtiS the bearing 53 against displacement en fiwis'e from the'end 52 of" theb'oss 66. Aringti-of suitable 'rrietionmateriaris'received between the paraiiei surfaces 558 "on' the support ring"-54, and iron the-sleeve. This slip friction-connection be tween the sprocket and' thearm "55 is; of course, simply iile'strative'offrictienor evenother drives 'tvhieh'wm exerte'n the levertt apr'eeetermmed torquewhen the sprocket turns in either-wrect en; aslonea'sit'is so tillii'e dafid iihtilfihded, the spreketeemmenees to turn in the etherdire'ctioh. Speb'ificauy, H s arra'ng'emehttviihwhen 'fiii'id is suppi'i eby theeump": to themotor- 'fiiifii'i') "device I2 arid "the reerzi' is drivexrb the 1mm: device 'cieekvvisein Fig. '1" to effect winding ine'f the co dueter'zs', eause the'iever "55 to be moved ifito dotted line posihen sho'vvh ii' Fig. 1, arid thus will cause irreveifieii't of the piston vhlve"3"l to its'iowerpesitieh aii'd cii't err eommim icatieh between the diiits 3| afid "33. As a resmt, it will 'beimposs 'ible for the relief valve 8"ha' the lower setting to preateihiihe the "i'fit'ziim'fifn pressure in the' line l0, and no escape of fluid tothe reti irh'liiie 15 will bebossime at a pressurebeiow the setting of the high-pressure relief valve 5. lAccordiiigly, the motoraeump device when operating as a motor \iiill' exert a torque on the reel adequate to effect winding in of'the cable atthe necessary rate Whenever cable winding is possible.

When the reel is rotated counter-clockwise in Fig. 1, as wiii occur when the vehicle moves away from the .point of attachment ofthe cable 25, the motor-pump device I2 will be driven by the reel and willoperate as a pump. arid, taking in fluid through the conduit T5, will' force' it into the line i0. Eecause-the armiiwill-be moved iminediately from the dotted line po'sitionshowr in Fig. i to the fifll line position shown in 'that figure as soon as the shaft IB -ofthe motor-pump device is turned counter-clockwise, the piston vaive 3'! will-bemoveil to the positio shown in Fig.4 anda connection will-be established between the condu-its Hand 33-, ang1 thereafter, so long as cable is being-drawn off of the reel, pressure will be relieved from'the conduit l O-assoon as the pressi re equals the setting of the low pressure relief valve 8. Accordingly;durihgthe drawing off of cable irom the reel; the tensior to-Whichthe cable issubjected-w-ill le -reduced and heating of the oi-lwill be reduced also.

Since the static friction in the mechanism show-n in-Fig. 5-wil1-exceed the friction-in this mechanism when the: parts are relatively rotat img, it wii1-be evident that whenever the reel comes to a step reg-ardless of-the direction in whichit-has-been previously turning, there will be nothing to effect achan-ge in the position of thepiston valve 3'! at the-time motion ceases, untilmotion in an opposite direction of the; reel occurs. Thus, when the reel ceases to rotate at th entl of a period er vviniing" in, the cable 25 will remain under thehigher tensionso long as the reelrema-im "stationary; arid if the reel ceases toretate after herie'd of rotation in an unwi ding flire'ctioh, the tension or the "cam-e will remain "the rerativei tow one "which 'fiii'evail's eurin'g "drawing *oi' the'cafire. one im ortam point mustnot; however, beeverlooked, endi that is that the setting ofthe' low pressurerelieflvelve win besuch' thet fluid uiidera pressure lessthan the setting ofthe 'low pressure reliefwfiive will be operative to "set-the reel in motion in a windingi'n direetio'n as soo'n -as any s'1aek is introduced in the cam -andor-eeurse tne very instant that 'th'ereel begin'sto turn iii-a windin in chrection the arm ii' and the piston varv'e 31 are shifted to cut oiftne communication between the eondei-ts il and 33 and to threw the control tithe ressure in the 'line HI- immediately hack to the high precstiie'r lif valveso that the-pressure in this c'onduit F0 willinstantamaeitsly b'iihd tothe big-her value desirable fO'r'TeelinE-in eperatien.

It will further he noted that the mechanism is a 'baianeedmisten' vaive mechafi ismyami that ably 'paekmg the upperspool erthe valve by 'venting the space in which t'he top ef valve ai moves, er-"by both, cr me-n3 othei' siiitabieeonventional manner there-Will beprevefitd the bfiildih'g uporaeownwarmy aetmg' imbalaneee liquid-pressure on the-valve 31 "will re'riderth'e forces metienan trahsniitted to 'the lever 55 -2ineapab1e-of moving the valve 81 upyiards aiid holding a it a in the positio" "or Fig. 4. In ether words, {the riangemeht is -sueh as to bhvfit' the'exertion er zfluie pressare bf I y'bfiirsequence in the matter of meeting rvalve eotwation.

It will be: observed that i nave-provided :-avery simple moheinifiml one "In Wh-itth'there is it reduetirm the amount "of heating of the oil; one in which, when the-greatertorque desi-rable for winding invo eration is 'ca-lled fer, itw in he immediately produced; but one in which .ithe torque exerte'wby the rmotor pump flevioeson' the reel w iiivbeiinnneeiateiymeeucee rupon the-commencement of drawing off of cable from the reel.

While there :is iii this iapplication specifically described one rfonm 'whieh the invention may assume in practice, it will be ufiderstood that this form: of-the same is shown for pumooses' of illustration, and' that the invention inay 'be modified and embodied in various other forms "Without departing- 15mm its spirit or the scope of' thee-ppendedclaims.

*What .I claim as :ne-w and 'desire toeecm-etir Le'tters'Patent is-z 1. In= combi-nationya winding reel "'ada ptea to have at power conductor -Wouti'd thereon land to wind in the conductor *or: to h'zwe the conductor drawn ofi therefrom, a reservoir for a hydraulic fluid, a'pumh havingdriving meahs, a'im'otcrpump device, a driving connection between the motors-pump d'evice andthe: reel, '3. connection between the reservoir -and-the1 pump, =a=eonhection between 1 the pump aml themotor -pump device, a connection 'betweenthe motor-pump device and the reservoir, means for releasing fluid from-the connection between the pump and thepmotor-pump device to the reservoir including means for-releasing fluid at a :re1at1vely high pressure-and meansfor releasing fluid eta-relatively lower -press ure, meansfor precluoling release -at said relativelylower :pressure whilev the motor-pumpdevioe'is operating-as a m'otor, and. means including an element rotated with said motor pum p device for-controlling-said release precluding-means.

"2. In combination; a winding '1'eei-adapted-'to have a. power conductor wound thereon-end w wind in the conductor-or tohav the-conductor era-whee therefrom, a reservoir for a hydraulic new, abunib having driving means, a motorpump device, a driving connection between the motor-pump device and the reel, a connection between the reservoir and the pump, a connection between the pump and the motor-pump device, a connection between the motor-pump device and the reservoir, means for releasing fluid from the connection between the pum and the motor-pump device to the reservoir including means for releasing fluid at a relatively high pressure and means for releasing fluid at a relatively lower pressure, means for precluding release at said relatively lower pressure while the motor-pump device is operating as a motor, and means including an operating element, an element rotated with motor-pump device and a frictional connection between said elements, for controlling said release precluding means.

3. In combination, a winding reel adapted to have a power conductor wound thereon and to wind in the conductor or to have the conductor drawn oil therefrom, a reservoir for a hydraulic fluid, a pump having driving means, a motorpump device, a driving connection between the motor-pump device and the reel, a connection between the reservoir and the pump, a connection between the pump and the motor-pump device, a connection between the motor-pump device and the reservoir, means for releasing fluid from the connection between the pump and the motor-pump device to the reservoir including means for releasing fluid at a relatively high pressure and means for releasing fluid at a relatively lower pressure, and means for precluding release at said relatively lower pressure while the motor-pump device is operating as a motor and for permitting such release when the motorpump device is rotated y said reel, including a drag actuated operating device having its drag providing element connected to turn with said reel.

4. In combination, a winding reel adapted to have a power conductor wound thereon and to wind in the conductor or to have the conductor drawn 01f therefrom, a reservoir for a hydraulic fluid, a pump having drivin means, a motorpump device, a driving connection between the motor-pump device and the reel, a connection between the reservoir and the pump, a connection between the pump and the motor-pump device, a connection between the motor-pump device and the reservoir, means for releasing fluid from the connection between the pump and the motor-pump device to the reservoir including means for releasing fluid at a relatively high pressure and means for releasing fluid at a relatively lower pressure, and means for determining whether release shall occur at said relatively high pressure or at said relatively lower pressure operatively connected to said reel and having between the same and said reel a slip friction clutch.

5. In combination, a winding reel adapted to have a power conductor wound thereon and to wind in the conductor or to have the conductor drawn off therefrom, a reservoir for a hydraulic fluid, a pump having driving means, a motorpump device, a driving connection between the motor-pump device and the reel, a connection between the reservoir and the pump, a connection between the pump and the motor-pump device, a connection between the motor-pump device and the reservoir, means for releasing fluid from the connection between the pump and the motor-pump device to the reservoir including means for releasing fluid at a relatively high pressure and means for releasing fluid at a relatively lower pressure, valve means for precluding release at said relatively lower pressure while the motor-pump device is operating as a motor, said valve means having a slip friction controlled operating lever, and means for operatively conmeeting said lever to move in opposite directions as said reel turns in opposite directions.

6. In combination, a winding reel adapted to have a power conductor wound thereon and to wind in the conductor or to have the conductor drawn off therefrom, a reservoir for a hydraulic fluid, a pump having driving means, a motorpump device, a driving connection between the motor-pump device and the reel, a connection between the reservoir and the pump, a connection between the pump and the motor-pump device, a connection between the motor-pump device and the reservoir, means for releasing fluid from the connection between the pump and the motor-pump device to the reservoir including means for releasing fluid at a relatively high pressure and means for releasing fluid at a relatively lower pressure, and means for precluding release at said relatively lower pressure while the motor-pump device is operating as a motor including a valve shiftable to predetermine the minimum pressure at which relief occurs and means for yieldingly exerting on said valve oppositely directed forces during opposite directions of reel rotation.

7. In combination, a winding reel adapted to have a cable wound thereon and to wind in the cable or to have the cable drawn off therefrom, a reservoir for a hydraulic fluid, a pump having driving means, a motor-pump device, a driving connection between the motor-pump device and the reel, a connection between the reservoir and the pump, a connection between the pump and the motor-pump device, a connection between the motor-pump device and the reservoir, means for releasing fluid from the connection between the pump and the motor-pump device to the reservoir at a relatively high pressure and at a relatively lower pressure, and means for precluding release at the relatively lower pressure while the motor-pump device is operating as a motor including a control element, and means for moving the same to a position to preclude release at the relatively lower pressure when said reel is rotating in a winding in direction including means for providing a drag and transmitting it to said element at least when said reel is rotating in its winding in direction.

8. In combination, a winding reel adapted to have a cable wound thereon and to wind in the cable or to have the cable drawn off therefrom, a reservoir for a hydraulic fluid, a pump having driving means, a motor-pump device, a driving connection between the motor-pump device and the reel, a connection between the reservoir and the pump, a connection between the pump and motor-pump device, a connection between the motor-pump device and the reservoir, means for releasing fluid from the connection between the pump and the motor-pump device to the reservoir including means for releasing fluid at a relatively high pressure and means for releasing fluid at a relatively lower pressure each including a yielding loaded relief valve, and means for precluding release at the relatively lower pressure through the second mentioned fluid releasing means while the motor-pump device is operating as a motor and for rendering said second mentioned fluid releasing means operative when said moto pump de i e is peretee ese menine udine een rel lem nt and .rneen sier enterin the sameine ndine me ns or providing a een ie elemeht=actu ting ime an iorutranem tine it to aid el ment h n said reel s. rotatin in a Winsling: in direction.

9- In. eembinetien, a windin reel eciantedte have a cable eund her enanclte d inth cable o -te have the cab e drawn n itherei em a r s e r er a hydraulic: uid P re? v 8 dri ing, means a meterepump vWin a stri in connecti b w en the meter-nu ,n iev ee an th eel a onnect n betw en the-r serveirel the mime a eenneetion:hetweenthe hump en the m t r-pump d vice, a e nneet en et een th motqy-pum-Q device and the reservoir, releasing t me from he ennneetienhe hump nd he-met r=nnmn d vi e tnithe eservoir at a relatively high pressure am} ate-relati ly l wer p essu e, am; me nsfer pre lud release at the relatively lewer press re while-the m er-P mpe i p rat n as ameter ineluding a en ra ement, andmeens or iney ne the same in at least one direction ineludin me s for pre ne; a dr g: and trensmitt gi to said control element when said reel is rgta ng.

0- In comb na io e w nn ng ee a a ted to have a cable w und the eo and 9 wind. inh c bl onto ave th able erawn ef th re om r s rvei ier a hydraulic fl e pump. ha in ine. m ans, me e htmh de iea dr vin conne on betwe n the mot pumn ide ieeend the reel, a ee hectien b tween-th reservoi an he pump, a c nnection hetweenthe Hump, an the mete -Penn ice eeetieh tw e the m te -P mpe ee end he reserv ir; meta o lea fluid om th co necti n be e he hump and he mqtorepump d vice the th rese v i n ludi g. meansv fe -v eleesingnu e .e a re tiv l gh pressure a em ene ier e eeine-flui t a e a i ely lewer pressure v e udih e i da ly loaded re e val e, nd meant Tie p ecluding; e as th e'neh the y el ehlw ade r li f a v f sa d seeenti mentionednuirireleasing means while the motor-pump gey-iceis inees a motor end he en er n said le ondvme ti ned luid eleasin Operativ o r a e flui a s yie d blyt ea ed re ie lve when said meter-Pump dev ce s one. .te as a pump.

1 In combination a winei greel dep ecll ha a ab w und t e eon nd to wind in th ab e r to e e'eeb e d awn lf ther i ein areS Oir for a hyd au ic luid, a pump havin d i in meen a t ern my -ev 'e d ivin connection between the motqr -pun p qeviee and he eel, a nnection between th res rvoi an h P a a c nne ti n between the when n the met epu ii de ic a eonneetieh be ee t m t n-pu p d v ce and th r se oir, iorvreleasin f ui m he eonneetien be ee the pump and th m r ph p eviee te=,th r er inciudine m ensre r eleee ngflfluidt e a relatively high pressure and means for releasing fluid at a rela ively lowerpressur each in ut ay e d hly load d relief va ve ind id al ther t and av i s wn re ie line, and heansu e precluding release through thesecqnglmentiqned fluid eleasing means while he met n nn p clevie i peratin as mete and err nd rin 0 12,1 eembinatien efew nqing eel siented t ha e at eablewonn i hereon .enci e I th eehle or te ere-the cable. .rrewn e I the eireih it reservoir. io ie...hyslraulie flui s. .nuinn. h vin dri ng meterrn nin devieeta dr in tonnest e between themQt r-pnmn eeri en t e reel, a en neetion betw en t e eeeivei en the pump, a connection between the and t e meter-plinth ne i e ee geet en b tw the .lneter-nninp,sl viee. e d t e reeeivei t ,nieen f r releee ne: iinidirem. the e nne'etionbetwee the. 9 -11 2 anti. the notfl, mn de ice eth reeerveir. inelnqi g, in n e .er re eaein iiuidet ar latiyel highnr meensier r eine .nuiet re ati W91, 23%??? n1- elusiina a lyielsiehiy eeclesi 'reli j aive i cl ri iue thereto anthe in s'e n relief line, @1 9; me n iennreelndine rel ee t re h th eieeehq m htinned. flute releeeing, whi e the meter- Rump dev ce is .enei ina as a me qrinel eing a va v in the re ie 1 .e'aeeee ated with eeisi eaennime tieneeflu tl rel eeine meen 13mm eemhin tien a able winding, iee1 meterioridriving' gain to n i an a windi g; e ee ieni end; or es ueihe. th telisineenerted, b icl meteiwhen it s riven haekwemsinelusiin n e1 ntrner h e t shie 1, neeit he to. fie such es in e q eensi hev nea s i trie- .eenne i n. wi Seiri met r erim vin'e ei i i n esieten d P951- seicinietei vterns in eenesite direttiQhi 1 v n eemhinati n, w ndi'neieel es eptes t have .eahle we ns th een an t9 wind in. th cable or to ave the ee'hle drawn f? therei mn e re rvoi in a hydraulic nun! a Pu aat ,Qriving m eyeineterennmp ,deviee; a strivin eeh e ti .mt nthe met r-hump ee ieeen t e reel e ne ien-hetwe n the r ser oir en thenux p aeenne tien b tw n t e um an the meter-hum deviee, a eenheetien be wee the m ter-pump ileviee endthe reservei mean it: i'ele ei fl 'i ernlthe eenneetien betwee the thi e. l reservoir elet eiy, e atively lew r nieeeu'r by. h ire tion Qi ee retae W. elip iiie ienfelnte he ingadn he elem v, M te siwith ea s reele si ed iven e men an mean m v si hr eei riven element i9 3 sietennin n the ni' eeure at which re lease shall ee 11- eehle re in meehehiein ada te t euhplt QWer tn 2 nevine vehic e a win in drum a apted t@ ha e a cab e w tl the n e iinid'metorior er vine eeid drew; me threet n te w ne able reon; fl id Quinn n P eseure lineieenn etihe aid nnmh 9 he me e vi e, relief mean eeeei ted therewith i0f nf=fDIS ll th re en to ee nde ceSSil teneien on e cable du ing w ndin in said motor being driven by said winding drum as apnmp duringthe unwinding operation-end exerting a torqne to maintain tension o said cable during unwinding, and means for relieving pressure from said rnQtOr when driven as a pump, but permitting said pumpto maintain a bak pressure en saidrnotpr sufficient to maintain tension-e i tre le r ng th n d e ene tign, ineludihgr lieiin a ev she eive' ethe dise eht nreee erm ne eheree-pre eure 9i eeinimeter wh n said meter is acting as a pump for relieving pressure at a substantially lower value than is requisite to operate said first mentioned relief means while yet maintaining a predetermined back pressure on said motor and means for subjecting said relief means in an opening direction to the fluid discharged by said motor when said motor is acting as a pump.

16. In a cable reeling mechanism adapted to supply power to a moving vehicle, a winding drum adapted to have a cable wound thereon, a fluid motor for driving said drum in a direction to wind cable thereon, a fluid pump, a pressure line connecting said pump to said motor and having relief means associated therewith for relieving pressure therefrom to preclude excessive tension on the cable during winding in, said motor being driven by said winding drum as a pump during the unwinding operation and exerting a torque to maintain tension on said cable during unwinding, and means for relieving pressure from said motor when driven as a pump, but permitting said pump to maintain a back pressure on said motor sufficient to maintain tension on said cable during the unwinding operation and to initiate resumption of winding when cable tension is reduced by vehicle movement, including relief means responsive to the pressure of the discharge of said motor when said motor is acting as a pump for relieving pressure at a substantially lower value than is requisite to operate said first mentioned relief means while yet maintaining a predetermined back pressure on said motor, and means for subjecting said relief means in an opening direction to the fluid discharged by said motor when said motor is acting as a pump, and means for preventing relief by said second mentioned relief valve means during cable winding.

17. In a cable reeling mechanism adapted to supply power to a moving vehicle, a winding drum adapted to have a cable wound thereon, a fluid motor for driving said drum in a direction to wind cable thereon, a fluid pump, a pressure line connecting said pump to said motor, and having relief means associated therewith for relieving pressure therefrom to preclude excessive tension on the cable during winding in, said motor being driven by said winding drum as a pump during the unwinding operation and exerting a torque to maintain tension on said cable during unwinding, and means for relieving pressure from said motor when driven as a pump, but permitting said pump to maintain a back pressure on said motor sufficient to maintain tension on said cable during the unwinding operation and to initiate resumption of winding when cable tension is reduced by vehicle movement, including relief means for relieving pressure at a substantially lower value than is requisite to operate said first mentioned relief means, and means for preventing relief by said second mentioned relief valve means during cable winding including a device for blocking relief thereby and a control for said device governed by the direction of reel rotation.

18. In a cable reeling mechanism adapted to supply power to a moving vehicle, a winding drum adapted to have a cable wound thereon, a fluid motor for driving said drum in a direction to wind cable thereon, a fluid pump, a pressure line connecting said pump to said motor and having relief means associated therewith for relieving pressure therefrom to preclude excessive tension on the cable during winding in, said motor being driven by said winding drum as a pump during the unwinding operation and exerting a torque to maintain tension on said cable during unwinding, and means for relieving pressure from said motor when driven as a pump, but permitting said pump to maintain a back pressure on said motor sufficient to maintain tension on said cable during the unwinding operation and to initiate resumption of winding when cable tension is reduced by vehicle movement, including relief means for relieving pressure at a substantially lower value than is requisite to operate said first mentioned relief means, and means for preventing relief by said second mentioned relief valve means during cable winding including a device for blocking relief thereby and a control for said device governed by the direction of reel rotation and having a slip friction connection between the same and said reel.

19. In a cable reeling mechanism adapted to supply power to a moving vehicle, a winding drum adapted to have a cable wound thereon, a fluid motor for driving said drum in a direction to wind cable thereon, a fluid pump, a pressure line connecting said pump to said motor and having relief means associated therewith for relieving pressure therefrom to preclude excessive tension on the cable during winding in, said motor being driven by said winding drum as a pump during the unwinding operation and exerting a torque to maintain tension on said cable during unwinding and when unwinding ceases, and means for relieving pressure from said motor when driven as a pump, but permitting said pump to maintain a back pressure on said motor sumcient to maintain tension on said cable during the unwinding operation, including yieldingly loaded relief means responsive to the pressure of the fluid which it releases for relieving pressure at a predetermined, substantially lower value than is requisite to operate said first mentioned relief means and means for subjecting said relief means in an opening direction to the fluid discharged by said motor when said motor is acting as a Dump.

20. In a cable reeling mechanism adapted to supply power to a moving vehicle, a winding drum adapted to have a cable wound thereon, a fluid motor for driving said drum in a direction to wind cable thereon, a fluid pump and a pressure line connecting said pump to said motor,

said motor being driven by said winding drum as a pump during the unwinding operation and effecting tension on said cable during unwinding and when unwinding ceases, and means for relieving pressure from said motor when driven as a pump, but permitting said pump to maintain a back pressure on said motor sufficient to maintain tension on said cable during the unwinding operation, including a relief valve connected to said pressure line, and a release valve operated by torque from said motor, to by-pass fluid passing said relief valve when said motor is operating as a pump.

21. In a cable reeling mechanism, a cable reel, a motor for driving said reel in cable winding direction, the pull of the cable off the reel effecting reel rotation in a direction to drive said motor backwards, and means including an element having limited movement and frictionally actuated by the reel as it turns in unwinding direction and held in one of its limit positions by forces transmitted from the reel for automatically reducing the motor torque when cable is pulled off of the reel, to reduce the tension on the cable.

22. In a cable reeling mechanism, a cable reel, a fluid operated motor for driving said reel in cable winding direction, the pull of the cable off from the reel effecting reel rotation in a direction to drive said motor backwards, and means frictionally actuated and yieldingly held by said reel as it turns in cable unwinding direction for automatically reducing the back pressure on said motor when cable is pulled oil" of the reel, to reduce the resistance to reel-rotation.

23. In a cable reeling mechanism, a cable reel, a fluid operated motor adapted to drive said reel only in a direction to wind in the cable, said reel as it rotates in cable unwinding direction under the pull of the cable effecting drive of said motor in a reverse direction so that said motor acts as a brake, and means for automatically reducing the resistance to reel rotation afforded by the motor as it is driven backwards, to reduce the tension on the cable, said resistance reducing means including a valve and a swingable valve actuating element having limited movement and mechanically shifted to and held in one of its limit positions by the reel as the latter is rotated in cable unwinding direction.

24. In a cable reeling mechanism, a cable reel, a fluid motor for driving the reel in only cable Winding direction, the pull of the cable oil the reel effecting reel rotation in a direction to drive said motor backwards, a fluid reservoir, a fluid pump having its intake connected to said reservoir for supplying fluid under pressure to said motor, and means, including a valve mechanically actuated by said reel as the latter turns in cable unwinding direction and having associated therewith means for precluding the exertion thereon in a direction to afiect actuation thereof of any fluid pressure of consequence, for automatically reducing the pressure acting on the motor by releasing back to the fluid reservoir, at a pressure lower than the pressure supplied to the motor when the latter drives the reel, fluid discharged from the pump.

25. In a cable reeling mechanism, a cable reel, a fluid motor for driving the reel in cable winding direction only, the pull of the cable oil the reel effecting reel rotation in a direction to drive said motor backwards, a fluid reservoir, a fluid pump having its intake connected to said reservoir for supplying fluid under pressure to said motor, a conduit connecting the discharge of said pump with said motor for delivering operating fluid to the latter, a continuously freely open conduit for conducting back to the reservoir fluid discharged from said motor after it has done work therein and for supplynig fluid to said motor from said reservoir when the motor is driven backward, and means for automatically reducing the pressure to which the motor is subjected when driven backward including means forming a discharge line leading to the fluid reservoir from a point between the discharge of said pump and said motor, a valve controlling flow through said discharge line and means mechanically actuated by said reel as the latter turns in cable unwinding direction for moving said valve to open position.

CHARLES F. BALL.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,206,309 Davis Nov. 28, 1916 2,090,707 Sloane Aug. 24, 1937 2,395,302 Slomer Feb. 19, 1946 

